Being as how it is getting towards the winter months, I thought I would continue sharing my experiences of different skiing trips I've taken. When I was growing up my parents were very avid skiers so we tried out, over the years, almost all of the big ski resort destinations (lucky me, except I don't like the cold that much!).
Killington Vermont is one of the better ski areas. It is not the best ski resort in Vermont, nor does it compare with Vail or Colorado, but I did prefer it to ski resorts both in Montana (Big Sky) and Wyoming (Jackson Hole). There are several reasons for this preference order which I can share with those trying to decide on their skiing destination this winter. First of all, it was much colder than Colorado and Vail; in addition although there was a somewhat wide range of trails there were not quite as many selections at the beginner and intermediate levels and there was also not the big ski lift gondolas that you see at some of the bigger resorts there, so there was a little bit longer of a wait and a little bit more of a novelty. There also wasn't as much of a cute, quaint ski- village feel and the ski lodges were a bit less cozy. As compared with Montana and Jackson Hole, while the lines at the ski lifts were longer than at Big Sky, there was a wider selection of trails and there was a wider selection of off-the-mountain activities (such as ice fishing and indoor rock climbing).
Outside of that comparison, some general information about Killington itself. There is a good selection of trails for beginners and intermediates - you can find out more at this website which provides trial and area maps so you can plan your route: www.killington.com/maps. As you can see, it is broken into 7 separate mountain areas - I'd recommend K1 Peak and Sky Peak for more advanced skiers (where my parents went) and Sunrise and Bear (for more novice skiers like me - this is also where the beginner and intermediate ski lessons are held). Purchase a package deal with your hotel for ski lift tickets as well as an overnight stay. It's expensive to rent skis but they have a good selection of skis and snowboards if you don't feel like dragging yours along. Overall a great experience!
Quick Tips:
Make sure you try out ice fishing here if it is something you are interested in. This type of off the mountain activity (they will set you up with your ice fishing hole as well as all equipment and some tips and tricks and perhaps even a thermos full of hot cocoa depending on the company you go with) is not something I have seen at other ski resorts I've been too. It's a relaxing (albeit potentially boring and cold) way to spend an afternoon. There are also lots of different spas in the Killington Area so you can plan to get yourself a few spa treatments if you are in the market for them after a long hard day on the hills. Check out this website www.killington.com/spas for more info on the locations and types of treatments and prices available.
Again, I recommend that you take the sleigh ride here. While it is not quite as beautiful as the one in Colorado, you will still see way more stars than us city folk ever get to see. It's a great experience.
Best Way To Get Around:
Forget about public transportation and walking. Try to stay in a hotel/lodge that has everything you need or can arrange tours and transportation for you. If you can't and you must rent a car, be prepared for snowy driving and windy small lanes- although not a whole lot of traffic. You can take taxis but they don't' just drive around like in the cities so make sure you call one in advance to come and pick you up when you want to go or else you will be waiting a while. There should also be an airport shuttle bus to take you to and from your hotel. The most important form of transport will be your ski lift ticket which you can buy as a part of a package from your hotel or as a day pass from the individual ski resorts.